Wells Fargo Active Cash vs Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard wins 2-1. Pay rent without fees — only no-fee card that earns points on rent. Wells Fargo Active Cash is still the right call if no-fee 2% flat — competitive with citi double cash..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Wells Fargo Active Cash | Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 2% (general) | 3% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $500 in first 3 months | = No welcome bonus — value lives in rent payments |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | = 670 | = 670 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Wells Fargo Active Cash
- 2% unlimited cashback on every purchase
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
- Cell phone protection (up to $600/claim)
- Visa Signature concierge
Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard
- 1x points on rent (up to 100K points/year, no transaction fee)
- 3x on dining
- 2x on travel
- 1x on everything else
- Transfer to 14 airline + hotel partners
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Wells Fargo Active Cash vs Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard: which is better?
Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard wins on more dimensions (2 vs 1). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Wells Fargo Active Cash for its best categories, Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Wells Fargo Active Cash: $200 cashback after $500 in first 3 months. Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard: No welcome bonus — value lives in rent payments.